Batting

BALTIMORE – UMBC softball's senior first baseman Chelsea Bertoglio (Laguna Hills, Calif./Laguna Hills/Saddleback College) delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the Retrievers out in front, but Niagara was able to produce three runs in the top of the sixth en route to a 5-3 victory on day two of the UMBC Dawg Pound Invitational Saturday afternoon at the UMBC Stadium.

The Purple Eagles improved to 6-8 on the season, while the Retrievers fall to 16-6 on the year.

Niagara was able to put one run on the board in the top of the first inning, after senior Brittany Richberg led off the contest with a triple that traveled to the left field fence. Junior Amanda Werth was able to drive Richberg home on a grounder to second base for the early advantage.

UMBC starting pitcher Kelly Lane (Albany, N.Y./Colonie Central) helped herself out in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI-single to right center field to score freshman Jaclyn Buckley (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Camden Regional) from second and knot the contest at one apiece. The Retrievers were unable to cash in on any more runs in the frame, despite loading the bases in the inning. UMBC left seven runners on base in the contest.

Niagara responded in the top of the fifth, as Werth walked and freshman Briget Hogan put runners on second and third with a one-out double to right center. Pinch hitter Ally Gay put the Purple Eagles back out in front, 4-3, with a two-run single through the left side of the infield. A two-out single to left field from freshman Rachel Ziarnowski extended the Purple Eagles lead to 5-3.

Starting pitcher Jennifer Sansano held the Retrievers without a hit in the final two innings en route to her fourth victory of the season. She allowed two earned runs on four hits, each coming from a different Retriever, while Lane (3-4) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on six hits.

The Retrievers continue action at the Dawg Pound Invitational with a game against Hampton (3:30 p.m.) on Sunday, March 16 at the UMBC Softball Stadium. Due to incoming weather in the Baltimore area, the UMBC versus Drexel game has been cancelled.